Steam-heating apparatus.



,E. P. osBoRNE. n STEAM HEATING APPARATUS. v url-muxos Hum nov. 2a, 19oa. MMWR!) PEL' 1. 1910- E. F. OSBORNE. vSTEAM HEATING APPARATUS. APPLvIOATON FILED NOV. 23, 1903. RENEWED FEB. 7, 1910. 1,049,595.

Patnted J an.

9 SHEETS-SHEET n.

n ltento# eigene F09* borne E.l P. 0 sBoR Nr- STEAM HEATING APPARATUS. f APPLICATION FILED NOV, 23, 1903. BENEWED FEB. 7, 1910.

Patented Jn. 7, 1913 9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Tank @Huur-n ey' LIP. osBoRNE. STEIAM HEATING APPARATUS. API-LIOATIOBILED NOV. Z3, ]903. RENEWED EEB. 7. 1910. 1,049,595.

Patented Jan. '7, 191.3.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.` n

E. F, OSBORNE.

` STEAM ,HEATING APPARATUS.

\ u PLIqAT'IoN FILED Nov. 2s, 1903. BBNEWED FEB. 7. 1910.

1,049,595.: A Patendqam, 1913.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

his dltorvzcys l 2715961 2-'06601016 *by E. E. OSBORNE.

. STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

- APPLIoATIoN FILED Nov. 2a, 190s. nmmwzm FEB. 1. 1910.

Inl/n gl' borne Patented J an. 7, 1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6 7ans' Wto www E. F.' USBORNE.

' STEAM HEATING APPARATUS. y

APPLIOATIoN FILED Nqv.2a, 190s. RENEWED FEB. 7. 1910.

'Paigented Jan.: 7, 1913.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

IMI/@nto 7:- Wldborne 'y hals' morrsey' E.. P. osBoRNE.

Y STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.' v APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1905.3. BENEWED FEB. 7,' 1910. 1,049,595. Pend Jn-7,1913.

um "n" n Witnede'# L17/autor.'-

E. P. osBoRNE. STEAM `HEATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED NOV.23,l1903. BENEWED PEB. 7, 1910'.

1,049,595., i Y Patented'Jan.7,1913r.

@SHEETS-*SHEET 9.

l352159.19 Tf ulm-muti i -dllllllllllll Y ninL-sv/*m I UNITED s TATEs PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE'E. OSEORNE, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR To OSEORNE scri-21AMENeIj-` NEERI'NG COMPANY, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OE ILLINOIS.

. 'STEAM-HEATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented an. 7, 1913.

Application led November 23, 1903, Serial No. 182,335. Renewed February 7, 1910. Serial No. 542,643;

To all whom t may concern: .i

Be it known that I, EUGENE F. OSBORNE,

a citizen of the United States, of Chicago, in

the'countyof Cook and 4State of Illinois, have invented certain new andV useful Improvements in Steam-Heating Apparatus;v and -I do hereby declare that the followlng is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,

.reference being had tothe accompanying displacing agent is mixed with steam at or,`

prior-to its entranceinto the heatingdevces or radiators and acts as a controlling element to increase or decreasej the radiating or condensing area `of the radiators and thereby their heating capacity.

Among the objects of the invention is -to provide an .improveddevice for introducing the displacing element into the system,

which isso constructed that the introduction Tof the displacing agent is controlled accord- A ing to the heat Aand pressure of the steam on the-feed'side of the heating devices. This feature of my invention maymanifest itself in' a device which-is operated to exclude the displacing agent from the system when ,the system is operating under certain maximum and minimum pressure except so much thereof as may ina naturalv or usual manner find its way therei'nto with the steam, and tol admit such displacing agent only whenthe system is operating under an intermediate Another object of my invention is ,toprovide means whereby the several radiators or of the heat after the generating plant has been closed night.;

Among other objects ofthe invention is to improve theconnecting fittings between the radiators and the circulatory pipes, whereby the operation of the system-,may hesinaclemore sensitive to control-,and wherebythe economy of its operation may be conserved.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter s et forth and more particularly pointedout in the-appended claims.

In the drawings Figurel is a d`agram' matic view of a heating system em odying` certain of .the improvements designed for `admitting air to the system. Fig. 2 -is a vertical section of the valve for admitting air or other displacing agent to the steam supply pipe. Figs. '3 and 4 show in: vertical for ay given period, as for thesection,..two forms` of a fitting located .bei tween the vsteam supply .pipe `and theradiator steam'A pipe for conducting steam and air -to the radiators. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate in vertical section two Aforms of feed seal fittings through whichsteam is admitted tothe` radiators andthrough -which water of condensation is conducted therefrom. Fig. 47. is a vertical section of still another form of feed seal fitting. Fig. 8 isa section, taken on line 8- 8 of Fig..7. Fig. 9 is asecton, takenonline 94,9 of Figif. Fig. 10 isa' section', taken on line ltf-JIQ of Fig. '7. Fig.

11 illustratesfa double feed and return radi-- 100 ator of'thecoil type (though it maylbelofV other forni) showing the application thereto of-fittings for controlling the admissifi'fof` heating devices of a lsystem may be automatically operated under varyin conditions, and to this end means are provided wherebyv moreof the displacing agent, suchas air,

may be introduced into certain of the heat' -non-controllable heating devices mayv forni;`

part of the same system.

A still further object of the invention is to steam and a displacing agentto the radiatory and the discharge oft-he VWater of `condensa- =tion therefrom. Fig. 'l2-is an axialsection" located in the water-of-conden'sation-pipe of the radiator lshown in Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a -thermostatically-actuated radiator air Valve and fitting therefor to prevent the escape of saturated stean through the same. Fig. 15 is a sectional view' of a thermostatically actuated valve located at the steam receiving `side ofthe radiator for cutting the steam pipe out of communication with the radiator when the latter has become filled with air. Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view of the form of radiator shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the application thereto of the thermostatically actuated valve, shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 17 is a fragment-ary vertical section thereof, taken in a plane at right angles to the View shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a"transverse section thereof, taken in-a plane above the thermostatically actuated valve and t-he pipes communicating therewith. Fig. 19 illustrates a practical form of thermostat shown partially7 in side elevation 4and partially in section. Fig. 20 is a front elevation of the operative parts of the thermostat. Figs. 21 and 22 are details of one of the expanding'chambers of said thermostat. Fig. 23 is a front elevation of the casing of the thermostat, showing the setting scale and indicator.

First referring to the general arrangement of the system shown in Fig. l, A designates a steam lgenerator provided with a furnace.

A1. The furnace may, and desirably will in practice, be provided with a suitable automatic `damper apparatus controlled by the generator pressurefor regulating the admission of air to the furnace, whereby the air supplied to the furnace and, therefore, the heat generated inthe furnace is proportioned to the pressure under which itis desired to operate the system. Such apparatus is not shown as itsuse in many forms is common.

- B designates a steamsupply pipe leading from the steam space of the generator and connected at its upper end with 'a horizontal' steam pipe C constituting one .of the steam mains. D designates an ascending pipe connected at its lower end with said horizontal pipe C. D1 designates a'drip' pipe connected with the lower end of the ascending pipe D and entering the lower end of the generator A, and through said pipe the water of condensation from the pipes C and D is conducted back to the generator. E E1 E2 designate heating devices, herein shown as having the form of conventional house radiators, which are connectedwith the pipes C and D. The radiators herein shown are of the single feed type, that is to say, of that type wherein the water of condensation is discharged from the radiator through the same pipe by which steam is admittedto the radiator. As will hereinafter more fully appear, however, the double feed and return type of radiator may be employed. Steam enters the radiators from the main steam pipes through feed seal fittings F G and H, shown in h.detail in` Figs. 5, Gand 7 to 10, inclusive, respectively. The fittings shown in Figs. 5 and 6 each embrace a check valve whereby, when the pressure in the radiators is greater than that in the circulatory system, the air in the radiators is prevented the system, while the fitting shown 1n Figs. 7 to 10 is of the water seal type.

Referring now to the construction of the fitting F shown in Fig. 5, and illustrated in Fig. 1 as connected with the radiator E2, it consists of a casin provided in its bottom with a branch f which is connected by a pipe Z with the steam supply pipe D and at one side with a lateral branch f1 connected with the steam inlet pipe e2 of the radiator E2, (Fig. 1). Continued upwardly from said branch f is 'a tubular extension f2 having an inclined upper end forming an inclined seat against which seats an upwardly opening Valve closure F1 which is hinged at f3; said closure opening tol permit steam to pass through the fitting to the radiatorand closing to pressure in the radiator is less than .that in the pipe system, said closure opens to admit steam to the radiator and the closure is at this time held open by the kinetic energy of the steam current. When steam is cut-off `from the system and the radiator becomes filled with air under a pressure higher than that of the steam pipes,.the valve closure is held closed by reason of the superior pressure of the air inthe radiator and prevents the escape of air from the radiator. Attached to the upper side of said closure is a viioat F2, whereby, when the chamber of the fittingis filled with water of condensation afrom the radiator the buoyancy of the float acts to lift or hold the closure open and permits the water to escape from the fitting to the level of the upper end of the tube f2 through the pipe d. Said closure seats by gravitywhen the conditions are such as to permit of this action. The overiilling of the chamber of thetting by water-of-condensation is likely to occur in case steam should leak into the radiator at a time the radiator is closed, and, should this occur, the float will raise the closure and permit the water to escape from the fittingto the return pipe, after which the closure will be seated by gravity, assisted by the superior pressure in the radiator. It will be understood that when steam is owing into the radiator, in the usual operation of the system, the closure is heldopen and that water of condensation passes continuously from the fitting,

lavailable when the valve is normally closed,

which opens inwardly toward the radiators,-

from escapinginto the circulatory pipes of prevent the backward flow of air from the radiator through the fitting. Vhen the and that the/float feature of the valve is as before stated. As a further and separate whereby said movements will not be abrupt and the closure will not'be seated with such l force as would tend toquickly wear'the closure and its seat. Said governor consists of a flattened arm or disklN attached rigidly to the closure at its hinge and extending into a chamber F'1 formed in one side of the fitting and which is designed to be iilled withwater to the level of the lower side of the upper end of the'tubular extension f2. Consequently the disk or arm F3 is submerged in water and the body of water serves to retard themovements ofthe closure in the manner of a cataract valve.

-Referring now to the ttingG, shown in connection with the radiator E1 it consists of a shell or casing' provided with inlet and outlet branches g g1, respectively, the former of which communicates with the chamber of said casing through the bottom wall thereof and the lat-ter through' the side wall. The lower branch g communicates with a pipe 01 communicating with the steam supply pipe C and the latter is connected with a steam-pipe e1 which communicates with the adjacent radiator E1. The inlet branch g projects a distance upwardly into the casing A and terminates in an annular flange g2, the

vupper end of which constitutes a seat against which seats a downwardly closing valve closure G1. Attached to the upper side of said closure -is a float G2 having a st em g3 which engages a suitable guide socket.- .in the uppernwall of the casing.

' With this construction, when the pressure in theradiator is less than that in the pipe system, the said closure opens to permlt steam to enter the radiator, being held open 'by the kinetic energy of the steam current, and when the difference in the pressures is reversed the closure seats and prevents the escape of air from the radiatorunto the pipe system; When the water of condensation collects in the chamber of said fitting it raises the closure throughthe medium of the fioat andv ,allows the water to escape from the `fitting to the level ofthe yupper margin of the extension or flange g2.

I have provided a cataract governor for controlling the opening and closing movements of the valve closure G1 which `operates in the manner of the governor shown in Fig. 5. The governor .herein shownconsists of a flat, horizontal, ring or piston G3 which is'located in an annular chamber G` located around the flange g2` and between the same and the wall of the casing, andsaid` ringis submerged in the body'of water in VAsaidannular chamber.' Said ring is connected with `the check "valve closure by means of vertical stems g* rising from the main steam pipe ring and attached at theii` 'upper endsr to radial arms g5 projecting from the valve closure. v Referring now to the water -s'eal fitting H, shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, it consists'of a hollow casting having a celitralvchamber H1 and provided wit-hfinlet and outlet openings in its lower and side walls. The chamber communicates through said lower opening and apipe c, with the and communicates through the side opening and the radiator pipe e with the radiator E. The chamber is provided at its upper end with a vertical partition H2 which extends laterally across the chamber and partially separates the parts of the chamber directly communicat-l ing withthe bottom and side openings.l

Said partially.' separated parts of said chamber communicate with each other at thetop of the partition through a horizontally elongated opening it, (Figs. 7, 8 and,10)-. The partition turns laterally at its lower end toward the side opening and terminates in lan upwardly] curved lip h1.

lExtending downwardly and Ilaterally from said laterally curved part of the partition is a wing 11.2 which extends int-o a chamber formed between the side walll of the chamber and an upward and rearwardly inclined web or partition 71,3, the upper margin ofv which is below the level of the lower'wallof the side opening ot the chamber. The dipping of said wing ,h2 into said chamberconsti tutes a-seal which, when the chamber is filled -with water to the level-of the web or from the radiator to the supply `pipe through said seal while preventing the passageof 'steam from the supply pipe to the 'partition h", operates' to allow the undisl turbed exit of the water of condensation radiator at this point, and directing the steam supply through the opening 7i at the top of the-partition H2. Thelocationof said opening 7L in-said partition is at the top thereof, while permitting the admission .of steam to theradiator such as to .heat the latter, prevents the passage of air from an air filled radiator to the steam supply pipe at a time when the pressure in said supply pipe and radiator are equalized, this ,being due to the fact that under such` equalized condition of the-pressure, the weight of the column of air at one side of the partition prevents said air from falling over the par-` tition intothe supply pipe so long as lthe pressure in the radiator is not substantially greater than that in the supply pipe. The

upwardly and V'forwardly curved lip L1of the partitionI-I2 serves to deflect the steam.

which passes downwardly from the opening.

k upwardly away from the bottom of the pipe e and thereby does not act with a retardation effect upon the outtlowing water .of condensation.

iso

The pipes which connect the inlet branches of the feed seal fittings F G and I-I with the main steam pipes C and D communicate with said steam` pipes through special fittings I shown in detail in Fig. 3. Said fitting consists of a shell having at its ends, branches or prolongations z' l constituting a through-opening in the shell. The parts or sections of the main steam pipe in which the fitting is included are connected with the branches e' 2'1. Opening from one side ofl said shell at right angles tothe branches i l is an outlet branch 2 with which is connected the pipe leading to the adjacent feed seal fitting. The said fitting I is provided with an internal conical flange I1 which extends in prolongation of the branch t' of the fitting and a distance past the lateral branch 2 thereof. rIlhe inner, smaller end of said conical flange I1 is made of but slightly smaller diameter than that of the steam pipe in whichit is included,

while the larger end is made of somewhat greater diameter than said steam pipe. The said internal conical flange I1 may communicate at its larger end wit-h either the inlet or the exit branchof thel fitting, depending upon the particular function which is to be derived from the use of said fitting, as will now be explained. It is to be understood that thefitting shown in said I"ig. 3, and just described is designed for use in a system wherein the air or other displacing agent is mixed with the steam prior to its entrance to the radiator or heating device. The air is mixed with the steam for the purpose of employing the same as a controlling agent whereby the heat radiating or condensing capacity of the radiators may be varied. In some instances, little or no control'of this character is desired, and in such event little or no air or displacing agent will be admitted to the radiator; while in a radiator wherein full control of its heating capacity is desired, a full percentage of air or displacing agent is admitted to the radiator.

The operation of the `fitting I to unequally distribute steam and air Which coperate with the special fitting herein shown to produce the desired result is as follows;- It may first be premised that when steam mixed with air, or other non-condensable displacing agent which is heavier than the steam, is passing through a pipe', the 4air or other agent is lfound to lie near the walls of the pipe and also to have less velocity than the steam, though not in proportion to its greater density. The kinetic energy of a given volume of air is greater, therefore, than that of a given volume of steam. Further, the steam is condensed on the Walls of the pipe and runs away as water, while the air, being noncondensable, does not so change .its condition or its position. i As the kinetic energy vto the radiator.

of a given volume of air is greater than that of the steam, the air is less easily deflected from a straight path than the steam. By reason of these several properties and actions of the4 air and steam, When the fit? ting I is so arranged that the steam current enters the side of the fitting adjacent to the large end of the interior flange or eXtension I1 of said fitting, the kinetic energy of the moving air prevents the deflection of any considerable amount of air to the radiator;but the steam, by reason of its less kinetic energy, is more easily deflected and will pass upwardly` through the branch 2 Therefore, a much larger lvolume of steam than air will pass to the radiator through the fitting arranged as described. lVhen, on the other hand, the mixed steam and air current enters the fitting in a reverse direction, that is to say, enters the end ofthe fitting adjacent to the smaller end of the conical flange Il, the air being principally near the Walls of the pipe, will pass to the radiator in a greater percentage, relative to thepercentage of steam, than in the first described arrangement. The combined effect of the differences in kinetic energy and of condensation of the steam produces the results above described notwithstanding the effects .of the laW of diffusion Which tends to -maintain the mixture of the two gases or fluids homologous. It will be understood that the same fitting is employed for both of the uses mentioned, it being only necessary to reverse its posi tion in the pipe to provide for dissimilar uses. Inorder to appreciate the advantage and the occasion for use of this fitting, it may be assumed that the radiator E is located in a part of the building in Which no regulation is required, or Where a substantially uniform heat is desired, as for instance, in the hallway of a public building; while the radiators E1 E2 are located 1n rooms of the building where it is desired to control the temperature thereof in accordance with variable demands or requirements. The radiator E, in which no control is necessary or required is provided, with a usual form of hand or automatic air valve e* combined with a check valve to prevent the passage of air at atmospheric pressure thereinto, while'the other radiators are pro-A vided with special devices for controlling the discharge of the air or other displacing agent from the radiators and .thereby control the heating capacity'thereof. i

In Fig. 4t I have shown a modified form of fitting designed for use in place of the fitting I, though not so effective in its operation. As shown therein, I2 designates a T-shaped fitting to theI ends 3 3 of which the sections of the main steam pipe are d esigned to be attached. The lateral branch t of said fitting contains a bushing 5 Within llO " radiating capacity of such radiators e 'Will now be explained. Y

Each radiator which is to be controlled isl whichits a .pipeor tube #which is adapted -at its upper end to enter'the superjacent eedseal fitting. The inner end of said .pipe e is directed laterally toward the inlet -or outlet end of the tting, depending uponV the position of the fitting relatively vto the iiow of steam therethrough. If the later-` `ally turned inl'et end of the tubel isdirected vlrei`feised, .that is-to say directedtoward the exit end of the tting, but little' air Willbe conducted to the radiator with the result of little or no control of the radiators.` v

The manner in which the presence of air inthe radiators acts to control or limit the provided with a lthermostatically actuated airvalve of that class designed to permit the escape of air from a cold radiator, when steam is first admitted to the radiator, and to be closed when steam reaches the valve to f prevent the escape of steam fromtlie radiator. Inasmucli as thev radiator E is not designed to be controllable it is not equipped with anything further than the. usual air valve to permit the escape of air from the radiator in starting the system in operation. Y The radiators E1 E2, and as many others of ka-psystem'as desired, are equipped with thermost-atie lvalves J Which are connected with the radiator air valves land are controlled by tli'evarying temperatures of the apartments in which the radiators are located to. reglllate the escapeof air or otherdisplacing agent from the radiators and thereby Vary f the heating capacities of said radiators.

The application ofthe thermostats J to the two vradiators are somewhat varied with respect to each other, and the application of the thermostat to the radiatorl E2 will first be explained. Connected by a pipe with the discharge passage of the air valve e5 of the radiator. E2 is one of the thermostatically controlled valves J, Which may be made of any lpreferred construction, the purpose of which isto control theescape of air or other displacing agent fromthe radiator upon variations of temperature Vin the apartment being heated,rpermitting the escape of air fromf the radiatorand the `increased lsupply of" steam thereto when -the temperature. of the apartment reachesa predetermined minimum point, and closing said radiator' against the escape of air and limiting the supply of steam `thereto after acertain maximum temperature is reached.

of the heating capacity c y p apartment containing the radiator rises the valve becomes cooled and the temperature 'of the air steam'entering the radiator acts t-o drive before it and out through said valve e*i the air contained in said radiator.- l'When the steam reaches the valve e.ls it heats the-thermostatic member thereof and acts in a familiar manner. to close said valve, whereupon the escape of steam through said valve is prevented, and during thecontinued admission o f commingled -steam and Aair to the radiator, the steam condenses in the usual mannerand thereby gives-.oit its heat which is radiated to the surrounding space, while the non-condensable air collects on the side of the radiator adjacent to the air valve' e.

In the meantime, as the temperature of the ence of the body of air in the radiator on the side thereof remote from its steam inlet side, l.

and which is constantly increasing in volume, limits or restricts the radiating or condensing capacity ofl thev radiator-and also serves to isolate the air valve fromthe heat ofthe steam, so that after a timesaid air opens. Incase has dropped in the apartment sufficiently to `open the valve of the thermostat J, the cold air is free to escape from the radiator and. admit the in-l flow of an increased supply of steam. In case, however, the valve of the thermostat is closed at atime when the air valve opens the air .Will not escape from the radiatoruntil thev heating capacity 'of the radiator has been so limited as to reduce the temperature of the apartment and therebyl permit the.

valve of the thermostat to open and allow the air to escape'from the radiator. The

air escapes from the radiator until the steam again impinges` against the thermostatic member of the air valve and heats the same in a manner to close-said valve., Thereafter the controlling function of the air is repeated in the same manner as before des cribed Vso long as steam and air are deliv ered to the radiator.

The thermostatically controlled air valve K connectedwith the radiator El (Figs. l, 16, 17 and 18) is not located in the last coil,

as is the air valve of radiator E2,'but is shown as located in the third coil from the rear of said radiator. In Fig. 11 the valve K is shown as applied t-o a coil-form of radiator.

adapted for connection by a pipe e with a hand actuated valve E3 connected with the last coil of the radiator at the location of the usual automatic air valve, (Fig. 1),'and isconnected by a pipe e" with the thermostat In the construction `shown in l 1, ,16, `17 and 18,. the valve-.K is

J. The thermostatically actuated valve K i is shown in detail inFig'. 14, and is there shown in connection with the coil-form of radiator illustrated in Fig. 11. The essential construction and operation of the valve is the same,.however, in all of the adaptations herein shown. Said valve is made as follows: Kl'designates a tube which is closed at its inner end' and is adapted to be inserted into the radiator in positionfor the steam in the radiator to impinge thereagainst. The said tube K1 is provided with an inlet branch 7c which, inthe arrangements shown in Figs. 1,16, 17 and 18, communicates with the `pipes e, and with an outlet branch lc1 connected, as shown in said last mentioned figures, with the pipe e'fleading to the thermostat J. As 'shown in Figs. 1, 16,17, and 18, the valve K is partially inserted into an opening in one of the coils of the radiator, the casing of the valve .being eXteriorly screw-threaded to engage the interior. screw-threads in said opening. In Fig. l1, the valve is likewise -inserted into a fitting L7 hereinafter to be described. `In

the adaptation of l the valve shown inL'Fig.

14:, to the coil-form of radiator, the inlet and loutletbranches communicate, .respectively, with pipes Z Z, having-the same function as the pipes e, e7, respectively, of

the radiator shown in the other figures referred to. Inasmuch as the valve K is illustrated in Fig.y 14: as vassociated with a fitting of the radiator shown in Fig. 11, and the adaptation thereto, which is hereinafter described, a repetition of the illustration of the valve is deemed unnecessary. Between said inlet and outletl branches of the valve is located a thermostaticallyr controlled valve consisting, in this instance, of a stem K2 (Fig. 14) which is contained partially in a tube K8 located inl-the inlet branch lc and having a taperedend-adapted to engage a like shaped seat il'l'sai'd'tube.4 k2 c designate the arms of aU-shaped thermostatic device located in said tube K1. The free end of one of said arms is attached to-the fitting wall, and the free end of the other arm bears against the inner end of the stem K2 of the valve in a manner tending to force "the tapered end against its seat. A spring'k* surrounding said stern4 tends to hold the valve open. When steam impinges against v said tube K1 it, as well as the thermostatic bars, become heated and the free end of the bar 7,43 is thrown outwardly and closes the valve; and when said parts become cooled, the spring 7c* opens the valve.4 The valve E3 of the radiator E1 is open during the usual operation of the said. radiator, so that, when the thermostatically controlled air ragiator therethrough and to the thermostat and when said valve closed the escapeof air from the radiator ceases. .Y Located in the base of the radiator E1 beneath'the loop containing. the thermostatic valve K isa depending diaphragm E44 (Figs. 16, 17 and 18) which divides the loop at one side of the radiator from the adjacent loop at the other side thereof, and said diaphragm dips at its lower edge into a chamber EIS which is depressed below the general level of the ioor of the radiator base, as'shown more clearly in Figs. 16 and 17'. When said chamber is lled'with water the water. submerges' the lower edge of the diaphragm and the parts. thereby constitute a trap which prevents the passage of steam from one loop to the other at the lower end thereof and also prevents the backward passage of air from the loops filled with air to the loops filled with steam. So long as the air is prevented from passing fromv the rear loops through -the valve K` and thermostat J, the steam cannot pass into said air filled loops nor, at this time, will air pass from said air filled4 loops to the loops filled with steam or steam and air, owing to the fact that the air is heavier .than the steam and will not tend to pass upwardly fromthe first air loop into the upper end of the last, or neXt adjacent steam loop. The loops in rearof said valve K are, therefore, always filled with cold air and .all or a greater part of the moisture contained therein will condense and fall down into the radiator'base and from thence. be discharged from the radiator.` Whatever moisture is contained in the cool air in the rear loops of the radiator it becomes heated as the air passes through ,the valve K andfeXpands so that when the air issues from the thermostat the moisture is not in a free state or in condition to soil the' wall to which the'thermostat is attached or other parts adjacent to the thermostat J. The purpose of the construction just described, therefore, is first, to cool the air prior to4 its passage from the radiator through the thermostat so as to condense therefrom the greater part of the water or moisture therein` and, secondly, to heat the air as it passes through the valve K so that any moisture contained in the air will be rendered harmless at the time the airissues from the thermostat J to soil surrounding objects. l

, In Fig. 1'1 I have shown the precautionary measures last described as applied to a coil form of radiator L, and the det-ail view shown in Fig. 14 shows its application to such form. Steamis delivered to one side ofsaid radiator through a pipe-C1 and the water of condensation is conducted therefrom through a return pipe L1, Said return pipe discharges into an individual seal fit ting L2, shown in detail in Fig. 12, and said fitting L2 communicates by means of a pipe provided with adepending nipple L8 into the upper end of which -is screw-threaded the lower end of the return pipe L1. xThelower end of the nipple L11A is located below the level of the pipe Z whereby the return pipe L1 is. sealed against the passage of steam orgaseous vapor in either direction,

. while affording a free assage'for the water ,from the return pipe 1 to the'steam pipe C1. The lower end of the fitting is provlded with a valved draw-ofi' or drain pipe L4.y

Communicating with the return pipe L1l lis a horaizontal pipe L5 constituting in effect, one of the coils' of the radiator. )Said pipe L5 communicates with the return pipe 'L1` through the medium of a fitting L, shown in detail in Fig." 13. Said fitting consists of a hollow casing provided with upper and lower `branches Z1 Z1 which receive the ends ofthe sections of thepipe I21and witha lateral branch Z2 which receives the adjacent end of the pipe' L5. lThe branch Z2 is kpro-` vided interior-ly of the fitting with a horizontal prolongation Z3 which extends pastthe branches Z1'and provided at its end with an annular head, whereby the water of condensation from the pipe L1 does not tend to find its way intorthe pipe'L. The end of the pipe Ll5 remote .from the fitting Le corresponds, in its relation to thel radiator L, with the loops of the radiator E1 in rear of the valve K. That is to say, said part of the pipe is designed to be relatively isolated from live steam and to receive a body of cold air and contain theair valve K which controls the discharge of cold air from said pipe. Said thermostatic valve fitting enters an enlargement or chamber L7 of said pipe, shown best in Fig.v14. The inlet branch c of said fitting communicates by means of a pipe Z4 with the rear end of the pipe L5 and the outlet branch 701 of the fitting 'communicates by a pipe Z5 with the thermostat J. The chamber is provided with. a vertical dial phragm L8 located between thel ends ofthe sections of the pipe L5 in which the chamber is included. The lower edge of said dia-y phragm is adapted to be submerged in the` water contained in .said fitting, whereby steam and air are prevented from passing beneath said diaphragm from one side thereof to the other; and the cold air isprevented (which occurs when a body of cold rair col- 'lects inthe pipe L5 and vin the pipe L1 between the valve K and the radiator), the cold air is permitted to pass from the `plpe escapes into the atmosphere., Such escape of the cool air rcontinues until steam, passing through pipe L1, fitting -L6 and plpe L, reaches the valve fitting K'andvacts thereon to again closethe valve thereof.

' VVhe'n a radiator lis used in a public hall `way or other like place (where, however, a regulation is desired) theescape of a small .amount of aqueous vapor through the equipment shown in connection with the radiator E2 (Fig. 1) will'ordinarily be unobjectionable, and in ythat case the usually located and cnstructed air valve of the radiator may be `co'nnecteddirectly with the thermo-- stat J. The precautionary equipment de-l -tors are located in places where theescape of an appreciable quantity of water is objectionable.

It mayoften occur in the use of a system of t-he character described (in a resistance .ofthe atmosphere or greater duringfthe night `or such other period of inactivity of the principal parts of the system, I. have proin the boiler after firing of thegenerator has ceased or has been reduced' and at a time when one or a limited number of radiators are to remain heated, may be directed to the radiator or radiators to remain in service, to the exclusion of the other radiators, solong as anysteam remains in thesystem. kThe partial -operationof the system in this manner may be eifected either by the residual heat of the boiler after firing has ceased, or the'liring may be continued during a vgiven period with a reduced'supply of fuel. The parts are so constructed that, when such use of the system is resorted to, the radiator or radiators remaining in service may operate under pressure so long as the steam in the system is above atmospheric pressure, after which the radia reduced pressure as long as any steam remalns 1n' the system 1n condltlonpfor use.

radiator E1, shown in Fig. 1, which is made as follows: If it be assumed that the radiato-r E1 is to be heated'inthe manner de scribed and that the other radiators of the svstem are -to be temporarily put out of service,'the valve E11 ofthe radiator' E1 `is closed. Thereafter steam `is conducted lto all of the radiators of the systemin the Ll5 through the pipes Z and Zli and valve it-A p ting .K to the thermostat frame whence'it wided means whereby the heat remaining This result is attained by the equipment ofl scribed is designed for userwhere the radia- Y ausl or other like place) that it is, desired to re- .95 inthe generator at a pressure equal to that L ros r ators so remaining in service operate under pressure.

usualmanner -until the pressure inthe systemv is reduced to or `belowfatmospheric When thisfoccurs no further steam is delivered into the radiators in which the valves thereof and associated thermostatic valves J are open, owing to the factthat theinterior of the radiatoris open to the outside air through said valves. The air in said 'radiators under atmospheric pressure is prevented at this time from passing intothe system'by the check-valves in the feed fittingy thereof, the check-valves being closed bygra'vity and held shut" by the pressure on the upper-sides thereof.

the' radiator (E1L in the present. example) having the closed air valve, however, there is vno communication betweenthe radiator and the outside air through such air valve and thermostat J, so that said radiator E1 operates under a reduced pressure to receive the steam from the systemwhicli has been reduced below atmospheric pressure. In this manner all of the steam contained or generated in thesystem after the firing has discontinued or releasedA may limited number of the radiators of the system. It will be understood that when the system is operated in been rected to one or a the manner just described air will not be admitted to the system, except that entrained in the steam, so that the radiator operating under reduced pressure does not become filled with air. In such use of the system, the regulative laction of the air is not required.

Referring now to the particular mechanism herein shown for introducing air to the radiators, such mechanism is made as follows :-O designates a fitting which is located in the main steam pipe C and provided at its upper side with an opening through which extends the nipple 1) of a' casing P, said nipple having screw-threaded engagement with the casing O. Said casing P is provided in its opposite walls with inlet and outlet branches 701 p2 and is provided internally between said branches with a partition or diaphragm p3 in which is formed an opening 71'* through vwhich said branches communicate with each other. P1 P2 designate upper and lower valves having tapered faces which separately seat against correspondingly shaped seats surrounding the opening p4 above and below the same. P3 designates a tube which is closed at its lower end and extends downwardly through the nipple ;0 int-o the interior of the fitting O and is subject to the direct action of the steam in the pipe C. -Said tube communicates at its upper end with a plurality of hollow, closed, disk-shaped bulbs or chambers P4L located in the casing P. Said tube P3 extends downwardly from a disk or plate p extending across the lower end of the chamber just above the nipple 71, said plate constituting a connection between said tube and bulbs or chambers. The walls of said bulbs arev made of such material that they are expansible and collapsible so that upon the existence of an. internal pressure in said chambers the series of chambers longitudinally expand and tend to contract 4or shorten vupon the release of pressure therein. The valves P1 P2 are attached to and movable with said-series of bulbs or chambers and are, therefore, opened and closed through expansion and contraction of said parts. The tube P? constitutes a boiler which is filled with a liquid having a lower "boiling, point than that of water. The -liquid in said tube or boiler when converted into steamor vapor expands said bulbs longitudinally 1in a manner to move the lower valve toward its seat.. .Other means of subjecting the tube or boiler to the' action of the heating steam may be made as ellicient as the arrangement herein shown. When the system is out of action and no steam exists'in the pipe C the upper valve is held against its seat by means of aspring p' A and said valve 1s moved off its seat against the action of said spring by, force of the steam or vapor acting on said expansible and contractible bulbs or chambers. Said spring p7 bears against the upper face of the upper valve and surrounds a' guide stem 778 for the valve extending upwardlyv therefrom andthe upper end of said spring is'seated in an annular recess in the lower end of an adjusting shaft p which Vextends downwardly through the neck p1 of the casing P and has screw-threaded engagement therewith. Said shaft is provided at its upper end with a hand-wheel p by whichl it may be forced downwardly through said neck. against the spring p7. The said adjusting shaft is provided with an axial opening or socket to receive the .guide steml p8. The inlet branch p1 is connected with a pipe Q which leads from an air pump R of any suitable type. The outlet branch of said casing is connected by means of a pipe- S with the steam supply pipe. between the itt-ing P and the heating devices.

The parts of the apparatus which have been described are so constructed and arranged that the valves P1 P2 are not lifted under t-he initial pressure of the system, but are adapted t-o be set so as to be operated to admit air.into the system` under a predetermined minimum pressure, whatever may be lixed upon; and, furthermore, the lower valve isy adapted to close the valve when the pressure in the system exceeds a given maximum. This practice is followed, for the reason that under ordinary circumstances the regulative or controlling influence of air is not required when operating under the lower pressure of the steam nor under the highest pressure of steam used in the I' `operaticifx of thesyste'm. The; spring p. therefore isgiven such tensionwhen the device-is' installed that thefvalvel against which it -acts' will remain closednntila certampredetermined minimum pressure and correlativo temperature in the systemM has. been. attained. Thereafter-'the pnessurerot aiIfU-toientcr the system to4 assert' its con- Y trollinginfluece on the radiating capacity of. the. radiators, as has. heretoforebeen del scribed.' Furthermore, .in. unusually cold weather when steam under high l.pressure is employed to heat. the radiators, it` isordif narily desirable to-dispense'with the aircontrolled feature' of the apparatus; and the Aparts are so arranged. that whena predetermined or -selected 'maximum` pressure exists 1n the systennfthe.- valve P? 1s automat-ically raised. against the seat, thereby preventing theA further entrance of controlling, or displacing air into theysystem. At this time-the force of the springxp7 is entirely overcome. It will thus be seen that fthe controlling iniiuence of Iair is utilized .pas

duringrtheintermediate stages of the temperaturel range of the steam and is dispensed with at the` extreme `high and low temperatures. The length of the intermediate or regulable stage of they range of ,preures and. correlative temperatures may of course be readily determined and maintained by a #proper adjustment I of the spring; p7. i.

In rig. ifs-sistemi a. sainfg- 'r designed lforuse in. af system-where the regulating or displacing -air is' separately admitted tothe radiators instead of being introduced into the, system at a central point therein'. `Said fitting is shown as applied to the radiator shown in Fig, 11 and in said figure, T1

designatesthe individual air line leading to said iitting through which air isdelivered to the radiator;` Saidvfitting consists of a casing T2 provided at. one endwith a screwthreaded opening which receives fthe feed pipe Z of the-radiator, and provided at its upper side with a screw-threaded opening which receives the steam supply pipe C1..

.The end of the casing remote `from the radiator pipe 'Z6 receives a tube Ta which has screw-threaded engagement with the casing and extends a distance thereinto.` Said tube is provided with a branch T4 with which the air'pipe T1 communicates. Located in said branch T4-is a valve consisting of a short tube! t which has screw-threaded engagement therewith and which contains an end- Wise movable stem ,t1 having a tapered end which engages a tapered seat in the bore of said tube. A spiral spring t2 surrounding said stem and interposed between a head on said stem. and the endet the tubet tends to -member t3 located in thetube T?.

normally hold the valve openand';the .valve isadapted to be closed byl a-thermoststi 1 thermost-atic member is s'o-setor arranged as to close the valve aga-inst the action.. of the spring t2. -With this construction, when air' impinges against the. ber` t3- the air valve is closed, thereby. stopping the deliveryof air to the radiator until the air is evacuated from said radiator...

y.The construction is useful when usedfin a building where, by reason or the location of vone or more of thevrooms or apartments, such rooms or apartments'are at times mairie tained suiiciently heated without the usepf the heating. device or /devices located there-' in. For instanceina-building of a number of stories, where the radiators alrelocated in rooms one above the `other,the rooms 'of the upper story or stories may become heated, by reason of the heated air rising from the I the radiator becomes lled' witlrair andith thennostatic mena4 lower stories so 'that the thermostatsof the radiators in the upper rooms will 'operate to close off the supply of steam to the radia tors located in said upper rooms before such upper rooms are heated by. their own radiators, and will remain heated by reason of the upwardly risingl heated air currents `from the lower rooms.. jInsuch. event the cooling of theradiators .of the upper. rooms, by reason of saidradiators becoming'tilled of 'theirtherniostats, hut said valves will remain closed by reason of the` heat.` from the heated air rising thereto frombelow. In this event. it becomes desirable to shut off the supply of air tothe upperv radiatorsso that air:I will not constantly' leak from. the air supply apparatus` through the air lled radiators into the system, and thereby result .with air, willnot s'erve to open the valves ina wastage of power required to supplyv the air.V With the construction just described when the radiators:` of the upper rooms become filled with air and therooms are so warm as' to maintain the release valves of their 'controlling 'thermostats closed, the cold air--impinging against. the thermostatic member ts of 'the fitting, T closes the supply of air to the radiators and prevents the wastefulA passage' of air" therethrough into the system. v

In Figs. 19 to 22-Ihave shown an a proved form of thermostatJ through which air is discharged from the radiators under v the regulative control of the temperature of. the apartments in which the radiators are located. The thermostats are set. to release the air from the radiators ata selected or predetermined minimum (temperature in the apartments, whereby, when such temperat-ure is reached thethermostat acts to release the air or displacing` agent, thereby admittingmore steam into the radiators with a. result. of. raising the temperature of the .isc

, c osed. The thermostat is so constructed' `topwjall ,of said casing J1.

and regulated that these operations are carried on under closely governed conditions so thatvariation of temperature which takes place in the apartment is withinnarrow limits, whereby a substantially constant temperature is maintained.

The thermostat consists of a casing J1 having a passage which communicates with `the radiator and through which air passes from the radiator to the\tliermostat, and

with an outlet passage jl which may discharge air mto the apartment'in which the thermostat is located or may discharge it through a pipe to a point voutside of the room. Between -said passages j and jl is `located `a port formed in a nipple jz which is designed to be closed by a valve formed on the end of a stem J 2, which has guiding engagement with a sleeve 7'3 rising from the The valve is held against its seat by means of a thermostatic device consisting of a series ofv communicating, independently expansible and collapsible bulbs or chambers J3 which are interposed between said stem J2 and an adjusting screw J 4 extending downwardly through a horizontal arm J 5 of a bracket or frame J 6 by which the device is supported on a wall or like place. `The chambers J3 are filled with a liquid which vaporizes at or about the selected maximum temperature of the apartment, and when such tempera-- ture is reached thevaporization ofthe liquid therein longitudinally expands the chambers and exerts pressure on the stem J 2 to x close the valve. The closing tendency of the 'thermostatic device is resisted by a spring J l made of spiral form surrounding the guide sleeve j and interposed between a head or iange 7'4 at the top of the valve stem J 2 and "an adjusting plate 'js surrounding said sleeve at the lower end thereof. Said 'plate is adjusted by means of laterally separated screws jconnected with extensions or lugs of said plate and/having screw-threaded -'engagement with lugs @il extending laterally from the lvalve casing J1.. The device is inclosed by a suitably formed casing J s. The

top adjusting screw J4. for the thermostaticA device is adjustedby a lever J 9 ixed thereto and extending through a horizontal slot y'B in the sidewall of the casing J8, as. shown in Fig. 28, and said lever is provided with' an index or pointer'y'" which coperaties with a l -scale on the outer curved face ofsaid casing.

- It is manifest that the invention may be embodied in an apparatus and parts thereof diierent widely in structural details and relative arrangement from that herein shown, and the apparatus shown is, there lfore, to beconsidered merely illustrative and is not to be regarded as limiting the? .scope ofthe invention, except as in such instances #mixing as an approved detail of structure or ar rangement is made the subject of specific l claims.

I claimas my invention 1. In a steam heating system, means con'- trolled by the temperature of the steam in the feed side of the' systemI for introducing a displagng agent into the system and intert with the steam therein, and means l whereby thel displacing agent is `introduced into the systemv during the intermediate temperature of the steam and is excluded therefrom during its extreme temperatures.

3. In a steam heating system, the comd bination with a steam distributing pipe, of a source of displacing agent, a pipe leading from said source and discharging into the system, a Jcasing located in said last men- 'tioned pipe provided with a port through whichsaid displacing agentpasses, and provided on opposite sides of said port with seats, two valves, one cooperating with one seat and the other with the othervseat of said port, and a thermostatic Vdevice connected with and operating said valves and subject to the heat of the steam in saiddistributing pipe.

4. In a steam heating system, the combination with a steam distributing pipe, of a source of displacing agent, a lpipe leading from said source and discharging into the system, acasing located in said last-mentionedv pipe provided with a port through which saiddisplacing agent passes, and-provided on. opposite sides of said port with seats, two valves,fone4 coperating with one seat and `[the other with the other seatof said port, a thermostatic device responsife to vthe-heat of the system connected with said valves and acting to move one of the valves ofi' of its seat and .to seat the other valve,

'and a spring acting` against said thermostatic device.

5. In a steam heating system, means con trolled bythe temperature of the steam 1n vthe feed side of the system for introducing vices .and 'meansfor controllabl releasing the displacing agent from said eating devices, of means associated with said distributing pipe for supplying a greater proportion of the displacing agent to certain of the heating devicesthan to others. p

7. In a steam heating system, the coinbination with a steam ldistributing pipe,l

means for v introducing a displacing agent into sa id pipe, a plurality of heating devices 'receiving steam and the displacing agentv from said pipe and automatic meanscontrolled by the temperature ofthe apartments in which the heating devices are located for controllably releasing the displac-- ing agent from said heating devices, of means associated with said steam distributing pipe whereby certaln of theheating devices receive a larger Aproportion ofthe displacing agent than others.'

8. In a steam heatmg system,ittle combination with asteam heating device, andy` .means for delivering steam thereto, df means from the steam inlet thereof, and a thermostatic air valve located in said pipe, and

a point between the sides thereof. v

9. In a steam heating system, the combination with a steam heating device, and means for delivering stejam` thereto, of means .for introducing a displacing agent into said fheating device and intermingling it with the steam, a thermostat operate by the temperature of the apartment containing the heat- 'communicating with the heating device at receiving and exhaust ing device and connected by apipe with the tween the thermostat; and the connection of said. pipewith the heating device for heating 'the displacing agent after it has been discharged from the heatin device.

heating device for withdrawing the displacing agent therefrom and means located beg In testimony, that I claimthe foregoing as my linvention I ailix my signature in presvember A. D. 1903.

ence of two witnesses, this 21st day of No-y OSBORNE. -1

Witnesses:

0.-. CLARENCE Poom, GEii'rnUDFI J. Baron. 

